Baxter Preserve is an area of open space in North Salem, New York (County of Westchester, like the Xavier Mansion)
My apologies if there are mistakes, I do not have a beta and English is not my first language, so even if I verify, some might escape. Especially about the use of verbs' tense, I'm not sure it's correct by literature's rules, but it felt good !
Please feel free to point them out for me !
"thoughts"
Disclaimer : I don't own anything related to X-Men
ILLUSION :
Chapter 4 :
Then they set to their little adventure. Charles was driving the Bentley, proposing otherwise would have been completely out of line, as suggested the almost glare he sent Erik once in front of the car.
After quite a short ride in a companionable silence, they arrived at their destination. Erik was impressed by the shear size of the preserve. There were lone trees, and some in a kind of forest, mostly old imposing broad-leaved trees, a lake, several torrents flying between rocks, a river, and plenty of trails to discover this safe heaven.
While Erik was observing the environment, Charles took out their picnic from the trunk of the car, which Erik hadn't even noticed was packed for them, though he should have thought about it, and made it float near them.
"Well... should we my friend ?" "I follow you Charles." And Charles lead them through a maze of turns among the trees, to finally come with a wonderful calm lake, fulled by a few torrents. It certainly illustrated the image of serenity that Charles evoked with him for his own training. " Indeed my friend. And that is why I like to come here when I need to be alone and to... be free, because contrary to you, I do not spend my days contemplating my anger, frustration or rage – do not look at me like that, yes I can feel rage, like every other human being – as this place, with all its serenity and tranquility is the perfect counterpart of these tumultuous emotions, and helps me find balance even then."
Erik is suspended to Charles monologue, he's discovering a facet of his friend he never knew even existed, and even a little ashamed to know that like all these humans, he trusted his vision of a man's facade regardless of any further explorations. Nonetheless, instead of feeling inferior by his lack of knowledge, as he might have felt just a few weeks prior, he feels humble yet special to be the one his friend decides to open up to. "What are you going to work on then ?"
"Well, As I explained in short this morning, I need to practice precise control with little intensity, precise control with strong intensity, large fields with little power but strong awareness, or with a lot of power, and lastly, multitasking, like influencing a large field, with quite a lot of power, while controlling a precise little thing, which is still an aspect of my telepathy I do not control perfectly. Although, as you may have guess, nowadays, I'm more of a psychic mutant than purely a telepath."
"You'll have to explain one day to me how is it our gifts evolve so, but I have a question before... if you would..." "Of course, go ahead Erik" Oh, he really shouldn't focus on the feelings that hearing his name in his head by this voice procure... "How is that multitasking is more difficult, seems to me using a lot of power for a large field would be..." "Well, maybe because the last time I tried it, I was positively distracted..." says Charles with the beginning of a blush... though Erik has no idea why. Indeed, Charles thoughts for himself, I was so busy contemplating my growing feelings for you my friend that I couldn't focus properly, and I'm not even talking about this body... Focus Charles, focus !
"So, what exercises did you invent to practice ?"
"Firstly, before any sort of exercise, I need to let go of the majority of my shields between me and the others, then between the others and me. This is to let my power... free for lack of a better word, and to work on my awareness, my connection with the environment, which is a key to not lose my own mind when I'm exploring." Then, Charles looks a bit sheepish before adding the next part. "I'm not sure how you're going to feel when I let go of the barriers, I never had anyone with me for my trainings..." Erik feels kind of special now, of course he could have deduced that earlier, but hearing it said aloud, kinda makes a difference. "Do so Charles, I do not mind... especially since you already know quite a lot of my mind..."
Charles then hesitates a bit, before daring to take his friend hand to usher both of them to lye down, before releasing him, making him feel the loss. Once set, Charles lets go of his tensions, his feelings calm a bit, and then he lets go of the different layers in his shields. More and more his awareness, his communication with the nature increases, and strangely the feeling of Erik's mind is foreign yet agreeable.
During this, Erik observes the psychic, and despite the distraction that it proves to be, little by little he can see small rocks hovering in the air, the water doing a very symmetric design, and even the trees at some point begin to move as one, which in fact corresponds to Charles' respiration ! Erik is absolutely amazed. At this moment, Charles open his eyes again, and what beautiful eyes he has. Erik doesn't think he has ever seen anyone with eyes a more unique blue, currently deepened in color by the power. As cheesy as it sounds, he would like to get lost in this gaze. That's when Charles talks in his head, almost stuttering "Perhaps... we could explore the possibility when I do not need so avidly to work...?" Which made him blush (him !) thankfully at the same time that Charles, nonetheless he notices Charles is not averse to the idea. A almost full grin wants to lodge itself on his face, and he has to restrain himself to not distract Charles more, because his gaze already quite fixed on his lips."I apologize Charles, and yes I'd be amenable to discussion later." And isn't that an euphemism ! The smile that reaches Charles' eyes is certainly worth the wait. "Well then, I'm ready for further work."
It's time for the real training...